Corporate Games competition under way

Every year, corporate teams from Ventura and Santa Barbara counties pair muscle power with athletic cunning to take home medals in sports such as dodge ball, bowling, badminton and horseshoes.

It's all part of the Ventura Corporate Games, which kicked off with a reception Thursday at the Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo. Participants say the contests often produce a mix of serious and playful competition.

This year, 66 teams in five divisions will compete, said Michelle Godoy, special events coordinator for the city of Ventura. They'll meet, among other places, on the soccer field, basketball court, golf course and in the ocean — for the surfing challenge.

The Ventura County Credit Union, a longtime event sponsor and participant, has been preparing, said Patti Braga, community development manager.

Tryouts have concluded for the bowling team, which is looking to upgrade from last year's silver medal, Braga said. The miniature golf team is defending a gold medal, and the softball team practices regularly.

"I literally have my employees biting at the bit wanting to play," Braga said, adding that they consider the city of Santa Paula a rival of sorts.

"We love them, but yeah, no," she said. "We plan to sweep it."

Competition can be fierce, but service events encourage community building, she said.

On April 17, participants can join an Earth Day beach cleanup, an event that features a team unity award in honor of Jacob Dole Probasco, a former city of Ventura employee who loved the games and died in 2008, Godoy said.

The games have been held for 21 years, according to the organization's Web site. Divisions are based on size. For example, companies with up to 50 employees pay $670 to enter eight sports, while companies with more than 1,000 employees pay $2,000 to enter 26 sports.

Scheduled events this year include a health fair Wednesday at San Buenaventura State Beach and the May 15 closing ceremony with tug-of-war and Disney-themed sandcastle contests.

Among the competitors are the Channel Islands YMCA, Patagonia, The Star and Casa Pacifica, Godoy said.

Other events include a 5K run, rowing, billiards, darts, flag football and Texas Hold 'Em.

Naval Base Ventura County competes in all events, said Robert Bonner, an engineer at the base. Last year, the base took home gold medals for badminton, tennis and paintball.

"Amgen's the No. 1 team," Bonner said. "I think they've won corporate games every year since it started. Everyone's always chasing Amgen."

For him, the best part is getting to know co-workers and people from other companies.

"We have 60 commands and 10,000 people here," Bonner said. "But I work in one building. In the corporate games, you meet people outside the building."

After a trial run last year, Limoneira will welcome more than 50 teams to the first official bocce ball tournament at their Santa Paula ranch, said operations manager Ryan Nasalroad.

More than 250 people competed in the lawn bowling game last year, with onlookers picnicking on surrounding grassy hills, he said.

"If you're spread out like we are, certain office people don't get to see or interact with the guys working in the fields or packing house or other ranches," Nasalroad said. "We all come together."